System of motors for electric railway-brakes



(No Model.) R 2 sheets-sheet 1-.

. C,v J. VAN DBPOBLE.

i SYSTEM 0F MOTORS PoR-ELECTRIC RAILWAY BRAKES.

Patented Nov. 9, `1886.

wbb/magna y N. PETERs Phuxvumogmpmn washington. n4 l;

(No Model.) w 2V Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. `J. VANDEPOBLE.

SYSTEM 0F MOTORS FOR ELBGTRIG-RAlLWAY BRAKES. No. 352,167. Patent'ed'lvov. 9, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oIIARLEs .IJVAN DEPOELE, `or cI-IIcAGo, ILLINOIS.

SYSTENLOF MOTORS FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY-BRAKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352.167, dated November 9, 1886.

Application tiled June 16, 1885. Serial No. 205,352. (No model.) I

f To ctZZ whom it may concern:

tric Railway-Brakes, of which the following is Y a specication.

The present invention relates to improvements in systems of operating electric railwaybrakes; and it consists in such an arrangement or" the electric circuits throughout a train, and of electro-dynamic motors and brake mechanv ism upon the desired number of cars thereof, that the brakes can be applied to or 'removed from the wheels by the power developed in the motors when supplied with proper current, and the motors themselves can be thrown into action for either purpose by the manipulation of suitable switches, all'of which can be brought' to a single point, thereby placing the entire system under the control of a single operator, who may be located at either end, or,

in fact, at any point on the train.

The system is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing a car which may form a portion of a train, said car being provided with braking mechanism according to my. invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section,I of'aseparable slipjoint or coupling by which the conductors carried by each car are connected throughout the train. Fig. 2 is a detail showing one of the contact-springs of the coupling. Fig. 3 is adiagram illustrating one method of reversing the direction of 'rotation of thearmature of the motors. Figs. .4 and 5 represent modifications thereof.

Similar letters denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings, A is the bed or lower portion of a car, which may form a portion of a train.

B B are the wheels, 'b b are brake -shoes bearing against said wheels, the shoes being supported on beams C, suspended from the under side of the car or from the frame-work of 1 the truck by links l) in the well-known Inanbeams, and their lower ends connected by a rod, e. From the upper ends ofthe levers E extend draft-rods F, which extend to and are connected with an electric motor, G, in any suitable manner, but preferably as hereinbefore shown and described in my Patent No. 347,904, August 24, 1886, excepting that screwthreaded shafts extend from each end of the armature-shaft, instead of from one only, and two sets of translating devices are provided, the systems being united through the rod e, the object being to secure a lpowerful and steady pull on the draft-rods Fwhen the motor rotates in one direction, and an equally steady thrust which will release the brakes when ther motor is caused to rotate in the other.

The motors G throughout thetrain will all be connected to a circuit leading from a suitable point-as, for instance, in the manner described in Letters Patent No. 324,899, heretofore granted to me, and No. 348,360-special `nently secured in some sate and convenient position on the car,'their terminals depending therefrom, as do the well-known air-brake -hose, like which they are provided with couplings L M at their extremities, the parts Mv fitting over and being secured to the parts L of the next car, and so throughout the train.

rlhe coupling itself is a simple device, the part L thereof consisting of a number of metallic rings, I, assembled together, each succeeding ring being larger than the preceding and separated therefrom by a band of insulation, Z', and each ring permanently connected to one of the conductors forming the cable l, and there being 'as many rings as conductors in the cables. The part M fits over the part L, and corresponds therewith in its internal conguration, each alternate step being provided with an annular spring, m, that is permanently connected with oneof the conductors forming the cable 2, so that when the part IOL Mis forced over the part L the annular springs will iit tightly over the annular terminals, making a thoroughly good electrical contact. A pin projecting from the part L fits into a slit in the part M, by which accidental separation of the two is prevented. I may, however, form the annular rings with a depression or groove in their peripheries, as shown in Fig. 2, and into which the ends of the springs will lit, thereby holding the parts with sufficient force to withstand ordinary jarring and swinging between the cars, yet permitting the coupling to open and separate without injury whcnever the cars are uncoupled.

In Fig. 3 is shown two series wound motors connected in multiple are to the positive main conductor I), leading from a suitable source of electricity, K, the return-ei rcuit being` through one or other of the conductors N N', the reversal ofthe motion ofthe armature being produced by displacing the commutatorbrushes i, which is accomplished by means of the solenoids H II', the plungers of which are connected thereto in any suitable cylinder, and by which they can be moved around the com mutator in the usual manner. It will be uuderstood that when the return-circuit is closed through one or the other of the conductors N N by means of the switch a, thc solenoid ineluded in the circuit which is closed will becolne energized and draw in its core, and thereby move the commutator-brushes to the most favorable working position for one direction of rotation or the other.

In Fig. t is shown a pair of motors and two main circuits. The field-magnet coils of both motorsare permanently connected in multiple arc between the main conductors P N2, while the armatures are similarly connected in a second main circuit, I)2 N3. The direction of rotation of the armatures is controlled through a circuit-reversing switch, I, by which the current in the armature-circuit can be made to flow in either direction with respect to that in the Iield-magnet.

In Fig. 5 a slightly modified arrangementis shown, in which the coils of the Iield-magnets of the lnotors are connected in series, as also are the armature-coils. The two circuits are,

l. In an electric railway-braking system, the combination of a series of electric motors, braking mechanism connected thereto adapted to be actuated by said motors to apply or release the brakes, and electric circuits and connections,wherebj` all the motors may be simultaneously thrown into operation in the desired direction, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an electric railway-braking system, the combination of a series of electric motors and mechanical connections between the motors and the brake mechanism for operating the same, a circuit extending throughout the train and including the field-magnets of the brakeactuating motors, a second circuit also extending throughout the train and including the armatures of said motors, and a currentreversing switch in said motor-circuit, whereby the direction of rotation of said armatures can be controlled from a single point.

3. In au electric railwaybraking system, the combination, with suitable working-conductors, of the separable slip joint or coupling consisting of a part formed ofa number o1' annular terminals assembled together and separated by suitable insulation, and a cup-shaped part adapted to receive the annular terminals and containing a corresponding number of annular springs fitting over said terminals, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the cable 1, the part L, consisting of annular terminals correspond ing in number to the conductors in the cable, said terminals being of graduated sizes and separated by suitable insulation, and the part M, consisting of a cup-like portion containing annular springs corresponding in number to the said conductors and arranged to tit over and grasp the annular terminals of the part L, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a car, of a motor mounted thereon, shafts extending from each end of the armature-shaft and oppositely screw-threaded, brake mechanism', substantially as described, and draft-rods extending from the brake mechanism to the opposite ends of the extended armature-shaft, whereby the rotation of the armature of the motor will draw or thrust on both ends of the brake system and apply or release the brakes in both directions simultaneously, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto atIix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM A. S'rrLns, JOHN EAsoN.

IIO 

